This Month In Music – November 2017

November, also know as Aus music month is a time to encourage discovery and celebrate some of Australia’s homegrown heroes. So why not celebrate our Month in Music with some of our favourite new tracks coming out of the country right now. Keeping in mind that we’re only scrapping the surface of Australian acts who are breaking international grounds (we’ll save some discovery for you), here are some of our favourite new Aussie tracks for the month ahead.

After a year that saw Young Franco drop two breakout singles with Miss You and Drop Your Love, the Brisbane based producer has teamed up with UK rapper Scruffizer on one of the most exciting party tracks of the year About This Thing. Kicking it off with highly addictive basslines and some romping Scruffizer rap, About This Thing perfectly blends house and grime, giving us a bumping insight of what’s to come on Young Franco’s upcoming EP.

Feki – Love You Better feat. GLADES

Brisbane beatmaker Feki has given us another reason why he is one of country’s next big things with his latest track Love You Better. Keeping his forward-thinking beatmaker cap on, Feki teams up with Sydney trio GLADES, in particularly enlisting the mesmeric vocals of lead singer Karina Wykes who adds a wealth of emotion and transcendence to the track. Overall Love You Better is a statement that veers in pop territories, and quite frankly we’re on board.

Nicole Millar – Blindfolded

Australia has a wealth of electronic/pop talents, and one who’s leading by example is Nicole Millar. Since her first big break featuring on Peking Duk’s High back in 2014, Millar has come along way establishing herself as one of Australia’s rising stars with solo singles Tremble and Signals doing some damage on viral charts around the globe. Now she’s back with Blindfolded, one of the first from her upcoming album and her most personal song yet. Supported with some thumping production from Kilter, Millar is explosive throughout the song, making this one for playlist over Summer.

Ford Miskin – Do It Better feat. Theophilus London & Samsaruh

To some, Ford Miskin might be one of the only new faces in the list this month, but after a good run of singles and enlisting feature artists that include renowned Brooklyn rapper Theophilus London and fellow rising star, Australian singer/songwriter Samsaruh, we have a feeling we’ll be hearing a lot more of this talented young producer in the years to come. Do It Better goes large with it’s driving production, soaring vocals courtesy of Samsaruh and London’s hip-hop influences. You could easily mistake the production of the 20-year old from Byron Bay with some of the world’s biggest powerhouse electronic artists, and his sights are not far off of it.

Milwaukee Banks – Lights Down feat. Sophiegrophy

Milwaukee Banks have been putting out their own recipe of electronic/hip-hop for quite some time, however Lights Down breaks new ground for the duo. If you’re familiar with Milwaukee Banks Lights Down is unlike anything you’ve heard from them before, but don’t be caught off-guard with the bouncy track that’s built for hot summer nights and house parties. The track also features Melbourne based artist Sophiegrophy, who’s doing some phenomenal things at the moment – you’ll be sure to keep an eye out for her in the future too.

Mallrat – Better

Mallrat is one of Australia’s most loveable new pop acts. It’s hard to dislike anything she has written in her youthful career. Known as one to produce quality not quantity, it comes to no surprise that her new single Better is her first track of the year. Mallrat’s soothing vocals go a long way, setting really luscious tones and feel-good vibes throughout the entire track. There’s no reason for this not to get a good rinsing on the radios come Summer.

PNAU – Go Bang

It’s been almost a year since our lives were changed with the return of PNAU and their mega-hit Chameleon, however they’re not done yet. With their album due to drop in the coming weeks, PNAU have sprung out of the gates with Go Bang – a track that could quite possibly outdo Chameleon this Summer. Having joined the band on tour over the course of the year, Chameleon vocalist Kira Divine returns with infectiously addictive hooks and an even more powerful chorus. Talk about outdoing themselves, the official music video for ‘Go Bang’ is one wild ride.

George Maple – Sweeter Than I feat. Q The Music

George Maple remains as one of Australia’s most forward thinking artists with powerhouse potential, and after dropping her highly anticipated debut album Lover this month, Sweeter Than I is one of the many hidden gems to feature on the record. Sweeter Than I sums up the entire record nicely with it’s slow-burning, beatsy and fierce tones that Maple delivers best.

Polish Club – Gimme Money

Months after dropping their debut album, one of the country’s favourite rock duos Polish Club have returned with Gimme Money, the lead single from Okie Dokie, their latest 6-track EP. Gimme Money doesn’t hold anything back as the duo return to their rowdy best. In this day and age, it’s hard to come across some real stomping rock n’ roll, and we have Polish Club to thank for a job well done.

Album of the Month: Kllo – Backwater

Melbourne cousin duo Kllo have come a long way in past 12 months. Beginning with some modest radio support on Triple J, their careers have blossomed to include a successful debut EP, international tours and now their debut album Backwater. We’ve featured Kllo quite a bit in our Month in Music piece over the past year and it’s been amazing to watch the two Aussies go from strength to strength with a sound that is truly their own. Their electronic production dabbles in UK Garage and RnB, and combined with the voice of lead singer Chloe Kaul, the record is phenomenally captivating in it’s entirety. Dissolve might be one of the instant highlights of the record, thanks to it’s detailed lyrics, moody pads and warm basslines. While the entire album stays on track, tempos flip from track to track, keeping it a refreshing as possible. Overall, if you’re already familiar with Kllo, then you’ll have no trouble getting into this. If you’re a new listener seeking discovery, then jump right in.